9 Canadian foods you need to try once in your life

There is nothing like the addition of pineapple on pizza to divide a group. Even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expressed his opinion about it on Twitter. But for many Canadians, the combination of sweet pineapple and savoury ham is a winning combination. 

Hawaiian pizza doesn’t originate from Hawaii, as the name implies. Instead, it was created in Ontario by restaurant owner Sam Panopoulos in 1962, who decided to add the dish to his menu. Today, you can find the famous fruit-covered pizza at restaurants across the country. 

Nanaimo Bars, British Columbia

If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll want to try a Nanaimo Bar. Originating in British Columbia, it is a layered dessert with a coconut-graham crust, creamy custard filling, and chocolate topping. The bars are so iconic that Canada Post even printed postage stamps with them! 

When visiting Nanaimo, the hometown of the sugary treat, you can go on a self-guided tour of the Nanaimo bar trail. At the 39 stops, you can taste an assortment of flavours, including peanut butter, maple bacon and the original. 

Possibly more controversial than the theory of who came first, the chicken or the egg, is the origin story of the Montreal bagel. Not debated, however, is the popularity of Canada’s beloved breakfast staple.

It first appeared in the Montreal area in the early 1900s with the arrival of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. There are several contradictory accounts of who baked the first Montreal bagel. But it is believed to be either Isadore Schlafman, who had a small shop off Saint-Laurent Boulevard or baker Hyman Seligman who sold bread from a horse-drawn carriage in Mile End.

The bagel is made by boiling dough in a honey-water bath, hand-rolling the dough, and baking it in a wood-fired oven. Compared to the New York version, it is crispier, slightly sweeter, and denser. When visiting Montreal, stop by a bagel shop to get one fresh from the oven.

Forget about your typical blueberry pie; when you are in Saskatchewan, you want a plate of Saskatoon berry pie served à la mode. Every heavenly bite is the perfect blend of buttery pastry, sweet fruit, and ice cream.

Did you know the City of Saskatoon is named after the berry used in the Saskatoon berry pie? The small community of Mortlach celebrates the province’s coveted berry in July with a parade, pancake breakfast, music, and dancing. All while offering an opportunity to sample the Saskatoon berry at its peak season. 

Heralded as a lobster lover’s paradise, Nova Scotia’s Atlantic coastline is a must-taste adventure in Canadian delicacies. In the 1800s, before there was efficient shipping of fresh seafood, the abundance of lobster on the East Coast made it an everyday Canadian food staple.  

Today, particularly along Nova Scotia’s south shore, it is sought after for its quality. From the beautifully scenic Peggy’s Cove to Barrington, the “Lobster Capital” of Canada, guests can experience every facet that lobster offers, from lobster pizza, nachos, beer and even ice cream.